LEWISBURG — In the second scrimmage of the 2023 season the Brookville Blue Devils erupted for 10 runs in the fourth inning to score a 14-3 rout in five innings on Thursday against Tri-County North.

The Blue Devils pounded out 11 hits and committed no errors during the victory. Brookville pitchers limited the Panthers to just one hit, a single by Carter Lake.

However, Brookville’s pitching struggled in the first inning throwing a bean ball and issuing five walks enabling the Panthers to take a 3-0 lead.

“Definitely was not the start that we were hoping for, going 1-2-3 in the first and then giving them 3 runs, but it was a good test. We didn’t panic, we just chipped away,” said Brookville coach Tyler Eaton.

“Once we got out of the first inning, our pitchers threw the ball well. Over the 2nd through 4th innings, we only allowed one hit and struck out eight,” Eaton noted.

Brookville got two runs in the top of the second inning. Braden Chambers hit a lead-off single to left and stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Josh Cooper drew a walk and Kayde Baker lofted a sacrifice fly to center to score Chambers.

Lane Willoughby stroked a two-out single to center enabling Cooper to score all the way from first base.

The Blue Devils then erupted for 10 runs in the fourth inning on walks by B. Waggoner, Willoughby, a RBU single by Nathan Waggoner, a walk by Sam Fullenkamp and a bases loaded triple by Hunter Gray.

Gray scored on a fielder’s choice to third by Chambers who then stole second and scored on a single to center by Cooper. Landon Trent reached base on an infield single to short with Cooper advancing to third. Cooper then scored on a wild pitch with Trent advancing to third.

Brody Webb drew a walk and Dominic Kleismit hit into a 4-3 ground out enabling Trent to score with Webb advancing to third. Coltin Lawson drew a walk with Webb scoring on a balk with Lawson advancing to second.

Seth Hoover hit an infield single to third with Lawson advancing to third on the late throw to first. Hoover stole second with Lawson scoring on an error by Panthers’ catcher Grayson Reynolds.

The Devils tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth on a walk by Chambers and a RBI double by Cooper. Cooper advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single to left by Webb.

“We struggled a little bit in our first scrimmage, but we chalked that up to first day out struggles,” Eaton added. “I challenged our guys to settle in, take your focus up a level, and grow from scrimmage one to scrimmage two. They did that. We saw some good things and are excited to continue building on it.”

Brookville’s scrimmage at Arcanum was cancelled Saturday due to frigid weather. The Blue Devils are scheduled to play their final scrimmage Thursday at Fairmont at 5 p.m.

The first game of the regular season is scheduled for noon Saturday at home against Preble Shawnee.

Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].